Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to host Russian President Vladimir Putin at Delhi’s historic Hyderabad House, one of India’s most prestigious diplomatic venues. Located near India Gate, Hyderabad House is the government’s chosen location to welcome visiting heads of state, host high-level bilateral talks, and conduct formal banquets.
A Royal Beginning: Built by the Nizam of Hyderabad
The construction of Hyderabad House began in 1926 after Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad and once the richest man in the world (as ranked by TIME magazine in 1937), purchased an 8.2-acre plot in New Delhi. He required a residence to attend meetings of the Chamber of Princes during British rule.
Architect Edwin Lutyens, who designed much of New Delhi including the Viceroy’s House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan), designed Hyderabad House with neo-classical and Roman influences, combined with Mughal-style motifs.
Cost Then and Now: A Palace Worth Nearly ₹400 Crore Today
At the time, the Nizam spent nearly ₹50 lakh on its construction—an astronomical figure before Independence. Adjusted to a notional inflation estimate of 7% over 100 years, this would amount to almost ₹378–400 crore today.
The original budget was ₹26 lakh, but costs doubled as the Nizam allowed the architect to “spend as required.”
Design Inspired by European Luxury
Built in the shape of a butterfly, the palace originally had 36 rooms, including a reserved section for the zanana (women’s quarters). The structure features:
- A prominent central dome
- Quadrangular Mughal gardens
- Circular foyer and grand stairway
- Archways, columns, and obelisks
- Imported teak wood from Burma
- New York–sourced electrical fittings
Its furniture was inspired by luxury hotel suites in London.
Priceless Art, Imported Décor, and Grand Banquets
The interiors once housed 30 hand-painted artworks by celebrated painter Abdul Rahman Chughtai, purchased for ₹12,000. Persian and Iraqi carpets adorned the floors, and the dining hall could seat up to 500 guests.
The property was insured for ₹12 lakh, with its furniture insured for an additional ₹6 lakh.
Did the Nizam Like It? Not Quite
Despite its opulence, the Nizam reportedly felt Hyderabad House was too Western in style and rarely stayed there. His final visit in 1954 included a grand party attended by dignitaries such as:
- President Rajendra Prasad
- Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
- US diplomat Eleanor Roosevelt
Today: India’s Diplomatic Powerhouse
Hyderabad House was leased to the Government of India in 1954 and is now managed by the Ministry of External Affairs. The ITDC handles its catering and maintenance.
The upcoming Modi–Putin meeting once again highlights the venue’s continuing role as the centrepiece of India’s diplomatic engagements.
